Discreet Hans

Hans came to Grethel. "Good-day," said he. "Good-day,"
replied Grethel. "What treasure do you bring today?" "I
bring nothing. Have you anything to give?" Grethel presented
Hans with a needle. "Good-bye," said he. "Good-bye,
Hans." Hans took the needle, stuck it in a load of hay, and walked
home behind the wagon.

"Good-evening, mother." "Good-evening, Hans. Where
have you been?" "To Grethel's." "And what have
you given her?" "Nothing: she has given me something."
"What has Grethel given you?" "A needle," said
Hans. "And where have you put it?" "In the load of
hay." "Then you have behaved stupidly, Hans; you should
put needles on your coat sleeve." "To behave better, do
nothing at all," thought Hans.

Hans came to Grethel. "Good-day," said he. "Good-day,"
replied Grethel. "What treasure do you bring?" "I bring
nothing. Have you anything to give?" Grethel gave Hans a knife.
"Good-bye," said he. "Good-bye, Hans." Hans took
the knife, put it in his sleeve, and went home.

"Good-evening, mother." "Good-evening, Hans. Where
have you been?" "To Grethel's." "And what did
you take to her?" "I took nothing: she has given to me."
"And what did she give you?" "A knife," said Hans.
"And where have you put it?" "In my sleeve." "Then
you have behaved foolishly again, Hans; you should put knives in your
pocket." "To behave better, do nothing at all," thought
Hans.

Hans came to Grethel. "Good-day Grethel." "Good-day,
Hans. What treasure do you bring?" "I bring nothing. Have
you anything to give?" Grethel gave Hans a young goat. "Good-bye,
Grethel." "Good-bye, Hans." Hans took the goat, tied
its legs, and put it in his pocket.

Just as he reached home it was suffocated. "Good-evening, mother."
"Good-evening, Hans. Where have you been?" "To Grethel's."
"And what did you take to her?" "I took nothing; she
gave to me." "And what did Grethel give you?" "A
goat." "Where did you put it, Hans?" "In my pocket."
"There you acted stupidly, Hans; you should have tied the goat
with a rope." "To behave better, do nothing," thought
Hans.

Hans came to Grethel. "Good-day," said he. "Good-day,
Hans. What treasure do you bring?" "I bring nothing. Have
you anything to give? Grethel gave Hans a piece of bacon. "Good-bye,
Grethel." "Good-bye, Hans." Hans took the bacon, tied
it with a rope, and swung it to and fro, so that the dogs came and
ate it up. When he reached home he held the rope in his hand, but
there was nothing on it.

"Good-evening, mother," said he. "Good-evening, Hans.
Where have you been?" "To Grethel's, mother." "What
did you take there?" "I took nothing; she gave to me."
"And what did Grethel give you?" "A piece of bacon,"
said Hans. "And where have you put it?" "I tied it
with a rope, swung it about, and the dogs came and ate it up."
"There you acted stupidly, Hans; you should have carried the
bacon on your head." "To behave better, do nothing,"
thought Hans.

Hans came to Grethel. "Good-day," said he. "Good-day,
Hans. What treasure do you bring?" "I bring nothing. Have
you anything to give?" Grethel said, "I will go with you,
Hans." Hans tied a rope around Grethel, led her home, put her
in the stall, and made the rope fast; and then he went to his mother.

"Good-evening, mother." "Good-evening, Hans. Where
have you been?" "To Grethel's." "What did you
take her?" "I took nothing." "What did Grethel
give you?" "She gave nothing; she came with me." "And
where have you left her, then?" "I tied her with a rope,
put her in the stall, and threw in some grass." "Then you
acted stupidly, Hans; you should have looked at her with friendly
eyes." "To behave better, do nothing," thought Hans;
and then he went into the stall, and made sheep's eyes at Grethel.